3 BEST PRACTICE RESUME DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
1. Include a "skills section" at the top of your resume. From hiring managers on down, everyone that reviews your resume wants to first and foremost ensure you possess the baseline skills required for the role you're applying to. If those skills are not highlighted at the top of your document the employer might toss your resume aside because they don't have time to go through it with a fine tooth comb to find what they are looking for.
Bonus Tip: Read the job description closely to identify keywords/skills/responsibilities that are mentioned numerous times. For example, if the role requires that you have a budget management background several bullets in the job description will mention words like (finance, accounting, reconcile payments, contracts, budget etc.). In that case, be sure to note "budget management" as a key skill in your skills section at the top of your resume.
2. A resume is a highlight reel of your achievements--NOT-- a job description! Your resume should clearly and concisely demonstrate the impact your contribution made on the company, department, customers etc. Every job you list on your resume should have a top line sentence or two that describes the overall responsibilities of your role. Underneath that description should be 3 to 5 bullets that highlight your achievements and the impact those achievements made on the overall goal or mission of the company. You might need to adjust your bullets per each job you apply to; This way you are highlighting the achievements/impact that are relevant to the role you are applying to. Bottom line, employers want to know as much as they can about your value and ability before they consider you an eligible candidate for a role.
Bonus Tip: Illustrated below is the difference between a job description bullet (the most common resume mistake) and an achievement based bullet (best practice approach).
3. Readable Resume: Once you have formulated the content according to the above suggestions do a once over for readability.
Did you list too many bullets? Is there way too much information crammed on the 1st and 2nd page because you want to include everything you have ever achieved over the span of your career? If that is the case, go back over the job description again to identify the top 2 professional skills/qualities that are needed for the role. Any information that does not pertain to those needs, delete off your resume for that job. If your resume is not spacious and readable, the employer might pass you over because the amount of words and information on your resume is too daunting to read in one sitting.
Bonus Tip: It is a delicate dance striking the balance between providing enough information to validate your skills and ability but not so much information that reading your entire resume requires a bottle of pinot and a quiet evening at home. So make sure you have at least 3 key pieces of content under the role that is most aligned with the job you are applying to. Then make sure there are enough spaces in the document for any reviewer to effortlessly read and snapshot the primary pieces of information they are looking for about you.
Bonus Tip: Read the job description closely to identify keywords/skills/responsibilities that are mentioned numerous times. For example, if the role requires that you have a budget management background several bullets in the job description will mention words like (finance, accounting, reconcile payments, contracts, budget etc.). In that case, be sure to note "budget management" as a key skill in your skills section at the top of your resume.
2. A resume is a highlight reel of your achievements--NOT-- a job description! Your resume should clearly and concisely demonstrate the impact your contribution made on the company, department, customers etc. Every job you list on your resume should have a top line sentence or two that describes the overall responsibilities of your role. Underneath that description should be 3 to 5 bullets that highlight your achievements and the impact those achievements made on the overall goal or mission of the company. You might need to adjust your bullets per each job you apply to; This way you are highlighting the achievements/impact that are relevant to the role you are applying to. Bottom line, employers want to know as much as they can about your value and ability before they consider you an eligible candidate for a role.
Bonus Tip: Illustrated below is the difference between a job description bullet (the most common resume mistake) and an achievement based bullet (best practice approach).
- Responsible for the development of analytics and decision-support tools.
- Design analytics and decision-support tools for executives; Tools are used as the basis for reorganization, consolidation and relocation strategies agency wide.
3. Readable Resume: Once you have formulated the content according to the above suggestions do a once over for readability.
Did you list too many bullets? Is there way too much information crammed on the 1st and 2nd page because you want to include everything you have ever achieved over the span of your career? If that is the case, go back over the job description again to identify the top 2 professional skills/qualities that are needed for the role. Any information that does not pertain to those needs, delete off your resume for that job. If your resume is not spacious and readable, the employer might pass you over because the amount of words and information on your resume is too daunting to read in one sitting.
Bonus Tip: It is a delicate dance striking the balance between providing enough information to validate your skills and ability but not so much information that reading your entire resume requires a bottle of pinot and a quiet evening at home. So make sure you have at least 3 key pieces of content under the role that is most aligned with the job you are applying to. Then make sure there are enough spaces in the document for any reviewer to effortlessly read and snapshot the primary pieces of information they are looking for about you.